Police Kill Man with Bulldozer over 10 Marijuana Plants
Drug war absurdity meets police recklessness.
Criminal Justice
Florida Police Chief Charged with Arresting Random Black Men to Improve His Department's Record
Former Biscayne Park Police Chief Raimundo Atesiano is accused of arrested black men for burglaries to boost the department's image.
Brett Kavanaugh's Soft Spot for Police Abuses
The SCOTUS nominee takes a dim view of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
Innocent Until Proven Guilty, But Only If You Can Pay
How America's bail system traps poor people in jail
New Calls for the Supreme Court to Reconsider Qualified Immunity
Some unusual amicus briefs filed in support of cert. in Allah v. Milling
Americans Support Alternatives to Cash Bail, Once They Know They Exist
People don't like the idea of people who haven't been convicted yet being stuck in jail because they can't pay
ACLU Asks Police Not To Attend a D.C. Community Meeting on Policing
Metro police were asked to limit their presence at a public safety meeting following "recent events" that include a questionable search.
A Florida Man Arrested for Pot Is in Jail Until He Lets Deputies Search His Phones
Police say there's evidence. His lawyer says it's a fishing expedition.
Florida Officials and Media Fight Over Parkland Shooting Footage
The media sues for video that may show what Broward County Sheriff's deputies were doing during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
A Cop Attacked and Threatened a Man Who Did Nothing Wrong, Then Made His Life Hell for Complaining
Video footage shows that Adam Finley calmly followed a hotheaded cop's instructions. But he was charged anyway.
'I Kill Motherfuckers'
A white police officer threatened to detain two black men for "walking in the street."
Police Seized Property of Close to 1,000 People in Michigan—Without Ever Convicting Them of Crimes
Thanks to a new state law, agencies now have to report how extensively civil asset forfeiture is used to take people's stuff.
Neighbor Calls Cops on 11-Year-Old Black Boy With a Paper Route
A boy delivering newspapers with his mom and brother aroused the suspicion of a local resident, even though he hadn't done anything wrong.
Federal Court Upholds New Jersey's Bail-Eliminating Pretrial Reforms
No constitutional right to pay cash for freedom if there are alternatives
This Congresswoman Thinks First-Time Illegal Border Crossing Should Be a Felony
Rep. Diane Black has proposed legislation reclassifying the offense.
Trump Pardons Oregon Ranchers Convicted in Brush Fire Case
Steve and Dwight Hammond became a cause célèbre for angry ranchers and another example of inflexible mandatory minimum sentences.
For #MeToo to Work, We Must Draw the Line Between Sexual Assault and Being a Jerk
Accusations against author Junot Diaz are pouring in, but not all allegations are equal.
Tourist Gets 8 Years in Egyptian Prison for Facebook Video Blasting 'Son of a Bitch' Country
Egypt has no freedom of speech.
A Young Man Recorded a Cop Pointing His Gun Toward Children, So the Cop Arrested Him
An El Paso police officer pointed his gun at some children, then arrested the young man who caught it on camera.
Miami Police Return $20K in Glittery Cash Illegally Seized from Stripper
"I felt that the glitter on the seized cash was compelling evidence, but apparently the police department disagreed."
SCOTUS Contender Brett Kavanaugh on Gun Rights, Search and Seizure, and Mens Rea
The D.C. Circuit judge is a strong defender of the Second Amendment but seems less inclined to accept Fourth Amendment claims.
Man Faces 30 Years in Prison on Child Porn Charges for Taking Sexy Photos of 17-Year-Old Girlfriend When He was 20
Since Ohio's age of consent is 16, it was legal for Edward Marrero to have sex but not to sext.
Man Sues Police Department After Video of His Tasing Goes Viral
Sean Williams is suing the Lancaster Police Department after he says a tasing violated the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
He Was Assaulted by Three Teens at Work, But He's Going to Prison for Defending Himself
Gaps in Connecticut's self-defense law lead to 18-month sentence.
Intoxicated Off-Duty Cop Crashed Car and Assaulted Witness, Police Say
Police say a drunk, off-duty NYPD officer crashed his vehicle and punched a witness before attempting to flee the scene.
NSA Purging Millions of Improperly Collected Call Records Is Important (and Not About Trump)
The USA Freedom Act was supposed to reduce unwarranted access to our personal data. That's not what happened.
Police Arrest Man Who Threatened to Kill Rand Paul and Butcher Family, Senator Says
Rand Paul thanks U.S. Capitol Police for arresting a man who allegedly made disturbing threats against the senator and his family.
Libertarian Party Adopts New Sex Work Plank, Becomes Only Notable U.S. Party to Endorse Prostitution Decriminalization
The LP's move comes the same week the Green Party explicitly rejected a platform that protects sex worker rights.
This UNC Rape Victim Became a Title IX Activist Leader. But Does Her Own Story Hold Up?
Andrea Pino's gruesome campus rape report jump-started national reforms, but even other activists are asking questions.
Is This the Summer of Snitches?
Meet Burrito Bob, Permit Patty, and other vigilante informants
Pennsylvania Officer Tases Suspect in the Back Because He Didn't Cross His Ankles Quickly Enough
"Oh come on, bruh. You're really going to tase him? He was sitting down. That's crazy. That's why I record everything."
Cops Arrested a Black Man. He Called Them Nazis, So He Was Charged With a Hate Crime.
"This is not what the hate crime statute was for. This is criminalizing pure speech, and that violates the First Amendment."
San Diego Police Chief's Bogus Number Ties Cannabis to Crime
Cop calls that supposedly show the trouble caused by dispensaries mostly had nothing to do with dispensaries.
Say Goodbye to the Kennedy Court
Justice Kennedy's retirement will have a significant impact on the Roberts Court beyond its ideological makeup.
Reality Winner Accepts Harsh 5-Year Sentence for Leaking Russian Hacking Report
Would she have gotten a better deal if she hadn't been denied bail?
Is It Legal for Cops to Shoot Unlicensed Dogs?
Pets shouldn't be treated as contraband.
Assessing Justice Kennedy's Legacy
A Politico symposium offers assessments by a wide range of legal scholars and commentators. And I offer some additional thoughts of my own.
Tennessee Deputy Charged After Videos Show Him Tasing Teen Tied to Chair
In one surveillance video, the victim is tased four times for a total of 50 seconds.
For Once, Police Officer Promptly Charged in Shooting Death of Unarmed Black Teen
Since 2005, just 32 officers involved in fatal shootings have been convicted on criminal charges.
The Big National Injunction Case
A decision with major implications for the national injunction--not Trump v. Hawaii but Gill v. Whitford
A war reporter for the cyber age
Interview of David Sanger in episode 223 of the Cyberlaw Podcast
